After all, he will one day be part of the historic EIWAs, which is the oldest wrestling conference in the country and a great precursor for college grapplers leading up to the NCAA Tournament.

Once the 2025-2026 high school season is over, Sipper will undoubtedly maintain his training regimen this spring before he heads to Annapolis, Md., in late June to begin ‘Plebe Summer’ as an incoming freshman at the U.S. Naval Academy.

He will be a new member of the Midshipmen’s strong wrestling program headed by the highly-regarded coach Cary Kolat.

The fifth-year Navy head mat mentor had his own stupendous high school career at Jeferson-Morgan High School in Pennsylvania where he went 137-0. He then spent two years at Penn State before transferring to Lock Haven University where he won two national championships.

The 2000 U.S. Olympian was then an assistant coach for strong wrestling programs such as Lehigh and the University of North Carolina before becoming a head coach first at Campbell University and then Navy.

Kolat certainly has had strong interest in Caldwell’s state contender as he made a home visit to the Sipper household while providing every indication that he wanted the young man to become part of the Midshipmen’s mat program.

“The home visit by Coach Kolat showed just how much he cared about having me come to Navy and it definitely meant a lot in making my decision,” said Sipper. “He is an all-time great and I definitely look forward to wrestling for the team there.”

In essence, the present and the future are very bright indeed for the strong student-athlete who will be donning the Chiefs’ blue singlet for a few more high-octane high school bouts before heading off to the U.S. Naval Academy to begin a career serving his nation.

However, before that impressive college quest begins to start a career serving thes nation, Sipper will be focused on what’s immediately ahead as a Caldwell wrestler with definite championship aspirations.     

“Carm is already an all-time great at our school, and being the great competitor he is, he knows there is still more work ahead in these next two weeks,” said Romano. “We’re certainly aiming for championships in the Regions and states, and we know he’ll be ready to give another tremendous effort no matter who he is facing.”

NOTES- Sipper, who said that Math is his favorite subject at James Caldwell High School, also said that he had 2 great grandfathers who served in the Navy and U.S. Marines…Caldwell, which has 9 wrestlers who qualified for Region 3 out of Distric 11, including five first-place finishers with freshman Michael Rankin at 106, junior Matthew Ruane at 113, Sipper at 120, and fellow seniors Yankee Mabee at 126 and Solomon Soriente at 138. Second-place finishers for the Chiefs were sophomore Anthony Barrett (144), senior Rocco Conforti (150) and junior Nico Capaldo (165). Sophomore Triston Belton placed third at 215…Caldwell, which has exceptional depth in the lower weights, won a third straight state sectional title this season while finishing 16-6 overall and 4-2 in the highl-competitive Super Essex Conference-American Division…Seton Hall Prep won the SEC and Essex County Tournament team titles. The Pirates won their 25th District title in finishing first in District 24 at Point Pleasant Boro. Senior Rocco Salerno (30-4 and 115-22 for his scholastic career), who is ranked eighth in the state at 215, became the fifth SHP grappler to win four straight District titles.

State Rankings at 120- nj.com:
1-Cam Sontz, junior, Delbarton
2-JoJo Burke, sophomore, St. Joe’s (Mont.)
3-Cade Collins, sophomore, Southern Regional
4-Carmine Sipper, senior, Caldwell
5-Robby Rodriguez, sophomore, St. Peter’s Prep
6-Michael Daly, senior, Cranford
7-Ryan McConaghy, senior, West Deptford
8-Ethan Michaels, senior, Colts Neck    

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